Sling-type infant carrier

ABSTRACT

An infant carrier with a sling body ( 12 ) capable of expanding as an infant grows in size. The infant carrier ( 10 ) is positioned on the front of the adult&#39;s torso. Newborns are positioned in a natural, supportive womb-like posture and as the infant grows in size and musculature they can sit be in a more upright position. Padded top bands ( 14,16 ) supply comfort and a structure to the upper edge of the sling body. Structural straps ( 18,19 ) eliminate stretch and offer strength along the upper horizontal region of the sling body means. The sling body means ( 17 ) is fixedly attached to a wide shoulder pad means ( 20 ). Adjustment to the infant carrier ( 10 ) is performed using an adjustable shoulder strap ( 30 ), a common loop ( 34 ) and a bar slide ( 32 ). Alternative hardware can be utilized that allows for variations in adjustment as well as removably attaching the shoulder pad means ( 20 ) to the sling body means ( 17 ).

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application60/060,950 filed Oct. 6, 1997.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to soft, sling-type infant carriers designed tobe worn across the user's front upper body.

2. Discussion of Prior Art

Human survival can in part be attributed to the ability of adults tocarry infants using their hands. This ability has allowed our species toprotect our vulnerable children in the event of predation or otherdangers. As humans became involved in foraging and eventuallyagriculture the necessity to carry children in other ways becameparamount. Women as primary care takers needed to be able to use theirhands and perform necessary tasks while carrying their infants. In orderfor work to be accomplished mothers needed to be able to have handsfree. The infants needed the security and the ability to nurse as thiswork was being accomplished.

Today, the ability to carry infants is seen as an opportunity for adultsto do necessary tasks, while also nurturing their child. Adults havework to do and infant carriers enable this work to be accomplished withboth hands. Infants genetically are still living in the distant past andemotionally need the direct connection to parental security thatcarrying offers.

Prior art for carrying infants has been primarily broken into twoapproaches: vertical carriers and horizontal or sling-type carriers.Research today suggests that horizontal carriers are best for younginfants that have not yet acquired the musculature to remain seated.Vertical carriers place a large amount of stress on the vertebral columnof young infants. The infant's muscular development is simply not ableto support the head and upper torso.

The alternative to this approach is a sling-type carrier. Being a morewomb-like environment weight is distributed to a larger surface area.Early approaches to slings have focused on relatively wide blankets offabric that wrap around the wearer's torso. These slings are bulky anddifficult to wear and young infants tend to get lost inside the largecloth sling.

These slings have tended to utilize a pair of rings or the like tofasten the sling about the upper body of the wearer. This approach tofastening the sling has allowed the slings to use large fabric blanks,but has tended to keep the slings bulky and blanket-like. The full bodywrapping effect of these slings is difficult to wear and unappealing tomany adults.

Recently, an approach has been made to increase the usability of slingsfor both infants and adults (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,925). There areseveral limiting factors in this approach as well: the fabric is wovenso that the sling size and shape is still on the large and bulky side,the shoulder pad is narrow creating ineffective weight distribution, thebaby carrier does not offer structural padding at the upper edges of thesling.

Prior art has been forced by design to use woven fabrics that do notoffer stretch. This forces the manufacturer to produce a sling that isof a maximum size. This has made them very large for newborn infants whotend to appear lost in the large fabric blanks.

The present invention's use of stretch fabrics has allowed for a slingthat starts out small and expands with the infant. As the infant growsthe sling is able to stretch in the cradle area beneath structuralstraps allowing the sling to get larger. This sling supports theinfant's development with the stretchable fabric by allowing the newbornto be in a fetal position and still be in visual contact with the adult.As the infant develops they are able to sit up and look out, observe andparticipate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A sling-type infant carrier with the shoulder pad fixedly attached tothe sling body and to an adjustable strap. The sling body assemblyconsists of a body, two bands, two structural straps and batting. Thetwo bands are differing in length with the band positioned closest thewearer shorter in length than that surrounding the infant. This providesa tailored fit for the adult and a cradle for the infant.

The top bands are fixedly attached surrounding the batting material orthe like. The padded top bands offer the infant's head support andprotection. In addition the padded bands and the structural straps givethe sling body assembly a structure not found in prior art. Thestructural straps offer the sling body assembly rigidity along the upperhorizontal margin to both limit the amount of stretch for the sling bodyand also to create a solid structure for carrying the infant.

The sling body assembly's shorter back top band and sewn in gatheringcreates a sling that contains a shorter uppermost length adjacent thewearer's body. The longer front top band allows for a bow shaped cradlewhile the short top band forms a tailored fit on the adult. The bowshaped cradle creates room for the infant. The tailored fit about theadult facilitates for unobstructed contact with the infant. The slingbody and bands are constructed of fabrics capable of stretching that aresoft, strong and flexible. For colder climates and weather fabrics, suchas, polyester fleece can be used to impart the ideal combination ofstrength, stretch and warmth. Warmer regions or seasons can utilizethinner, cooler fabrics. The fabric's stretch characteristics can beaccommodated by varying the sling body size. Very stretchy fabricsrequire a smaller sling body size.

The sling body assembly is fixedly attached to a substantially wideshoulder pad assembly. The direct attachment of the sling body assemblyto the substantially wide shoulder pad allows for greater weightdistribution than can be accomplished by using the Knittel method (Pat.No. 4,757,925) of mounting a shoulder pad onto a strap. The pad isdesigned for the left shoulder to place the infant's head close to thewearer's heart. The pad can also be designed to be for use on the rightshoulder if needed. Future possibilities can be to use hardware to allowfor removably fixing the shoulder pad for either right or left shoulderusage. Hardware can be used that also allows for front strap lengthadjustment and front buckling/unbuckling.

The shoulder pad cover can be constructed of a fabric that is strong andflexible. The shoulder pad contains a padding material. The shoulder padassembly is fixedly attached on its rear side to an adjustable strap.The adjustable strap is adjustably attached to the rear side of thesling body assembly. Future possibility is a strap adjustment thatoffers the option of using either shoulder for support.

The main object of the invention is to create a sling-type infantcarrier that is of improved fit and comfort for the infant and the adultwearer. The preferred embodiment of the infant sling contains: a soft,stretch fabric for the sling body, padded upper bands and structuralstraps for comfort and support.

Improved fit for the infant is achieved by the use of stretch fabrics,differing length padded top bands and gatherings of the sling. Thestretch of the fabric is controlled by the combination of the fabricblank size, the padded top bands, the gatherings, and the structuralstraps. The top bands and the structural straps do not allow forsignificant stretch to occur along the top margin of the sling body.Thus, the sling body has expansion ability below the top margin and thesling has the necessary amount of strength and integrity.

The body of the sling starts out small and expands as the infantdevelops from a fetal position to a sitting position as the infant'smusculature is able. The newborn is held comfortably in a womb typeposition and the adult can see and connect with the infant. As theinfant grows the sling is able to stretch in the cradle area beneath thestructural straps, allowing the sling to comfortably support a largerinfant in seated positions.

Another object of the present invention was to create an infant carrierin which the infant and adult can be in visual contact with each other.The bow shaped cradle and padded top bands create a carrier that is openalong the top edges to allow for eye contact and easy access with theadult. The infant is readily accessible for the adult—physically andvisually.

Another object of the present invention was to provide an infant carrierthat was comfortable for the adult. The direct attachment of theshoulder pad assembly to the sling body assembly has an advantage forcomfortably carrying the infant's weight. The shoulder pad has a largerarea of effective weight distribution than can be accomplished by usinga shoulder strap mounted shoulder pad.

Another object of the present invention was to provide an infant carrierthat was simple to use. The single adjustment on the strap means is allthat is necessary for properly setting up the carrier. The sling bodyassembly is tailored to fit both the infant and the adult and does notrequire any adjustment at all.

Another object of the present invention was to create an infant carrierthat both men and women feel comfortable wearing. Prior art slings havetended to be primarily suited to be worn by women. The tailored body ofthe sling and the lack of the blanket-like effect clearly make thepresent invention acceptable to both men and women.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way ofexample and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the infant carrier in use with a newborninfant;

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the infant carrier in use taken fromthe back view of the user.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the infant carrier in an open position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary detail view of the shoulder pad meansillustrating attachment to the sling body means with cutawaysillustrating the padding in the shoulder pad means and batting materialin the top bands;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detail view of the sling body means illustratingattachment to the adjustment strap;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the back top band;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the sling body;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the front top band;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary detail view of the sling body means illustratingattachment to an adjustable buckle;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the infant carrier fitted with two buckles forremovably attaching the shoulder pad means to the sling body means,shoulder pad may be used for either shoulder.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the infant carrier in use with a largerinfant illustrating expansion of sling body size.

Drawing Reference Numerals Worksheet 10 carrier apparatus 12 sling body14 front top band 16 back top band 17 sling body means 18 frontstructural strap 19 back structural strap 20 shoulder pad means 22shoulder pad cover 24 shoulder pad attachment 26 shoulder pad attachment28 sling body attachment 30 support strap, long 32 bar slide 34 commonloop 36 support strap, short 40 gathers 42 batting 44 foam insert 50shoulder pad, outer margin 52 shoulder pad, inside margin 54 adjustablebuckle-male 56 non-adjustable buckle-male 58 buckle-female

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An infant carrier 10 includes a sling body 12 with its padded top bands14,16, structural straps 18,19, a shoulder pad 20 and strap assembly, asshown in FIGS. 1, 1A, and 2. The sling body 12, padded top bands 14,16and structural straps are sewn together. The top bands encase a paddingmaterial, such as batting (See FIG. 3). The arrangement of the slingbody 12, the top bands 14,16 and the structural straps 18,19 is suchthat the sling body assembly 17 attains an arcuate configuration (SeeFIG. 1).

The sling body assembly's shape is achieved by using a shorter back topband 16 than front top band 14. The arcuate configuration is alsoachieved by utilizing gathers 40 sewn into the sling body during theattachment of the top bands (See FIG. 2). The structural straps 18,19are sewn on after the sling body, top band and gathering process (SeeFIGS. 1 and 2). The arcuate configuration of the sling creates atailored fit surrounding the adult's torso. It also creates a cradle forthe infant (FIGS. 1 and 10).

The sling body 12 can be made of a fabric that is capable of asignificant amount of stretch (FIG. 10). The top bands 14,16 may be madeof a fabric that may or may not stretch. The top bands 14,16 if using astretch fabric may use the fabric in such a way that the stretch of thefabric is reduced. The structural straps 18,19 can be made of any strongstrap such as grosgrain ribbon, tapestry tape or the like. Thestructural straps need to have an insignificant amount of stretch andhave considerable strength

The padded top bands 14,16 give the sling body assembly 17 a structurenot found in prior art. The structure allows for ease of baby placementwithin the sling. The structure also leaves the sling open along the topmargin for the adult and infant to have visual contact with each other(See FIGS. 1 and 10). The infant is reassured with direct contact withthe adult.

The shoulder pad assembly 20 is constructed of a cover 22 sewn toenclose a padding material 44. The shoulder pad assembly contains anarcuate shape with the longest peripheral axis being along the outsidemargin 50 (See FIGS. 1, 1A and 2). The shorter margin 52 is closest tothe wearer's neck. The design allows for as wide a shoulder pad aspossible to be utilized for maximum weight distribution.

The shoulder pad assembly 20 is fixedly attached to the sling bodyassembly with shoulder pad attachment 24, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thesling body assembly is folded to fit into the attachment 24 and sewn.The back side of the shoulder pad assembly 20 is attached to theshoulder strap 30 with shoulder pad attachment 26. These three layersare sewn together. The arrangement of the shoulder pad assembly beingsewn directly to the sling body assembly 17 creates an infant carrierthat positions the infant's head close to the wearer's heart. Thisplacement creates a restful environment for the infant. The directattachment of the shoulder pad assembly 20 to the sling body assemblyalso allows for greater weight distribution than can be accomplished byusing a shoulder strap mounted shoulder pad.

The shoulder strap consists of a long strap 30, a bar slide 32, a commonloop 34 and a short support strap 36 (See FIGS. 2 and 4). The shortsupport strap 36 is fixedly sewn to the body of the sling usingattachment piece 28. The attachment pieces 24,26,28 are constructed of astrong, flexible fabric. The coupling and adjustment of the supportstraps is accomplished using respectively, a common loop 34 and a barslide 32 (see FIGS. 1A and 5). The support straps 30,36 can be made ofany strong strap. The use of the straps and adjustment/coupling hardwareallows for ease of adjustment and security for the infant.

The sling body assembly 17 design lends itself to further innovative anduseful hardware usage. The sling body assembly can remain identical topresent invention and be fitted with hardware variations to create afront adjustable sling that can be removed by unbuckling (See FIG. 8) orthat can be used on either shoulder (See FIG. 9). These simplemodifications can be useful for breast feeding or for people that wantor require a product that can be used on either shoulder.

The advantage of a front adjustable buckle (See FIG. 8) can be that thewearer can tighten or loosen the sling without taking it of. The bucklecan further allow the adult to remove the sling without sliding thestrap over their head. The double buckle approach (FIG. 9) allows forthe wearer to choose the shoulder for carrying the child. This again maybe helpful for breast feeding and also for either left or right handedadults.

It is therefore to be understood that various modifications and changesin the construction and arrangement of parts comprising the preferredembodiment of the present invention may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope there of as defined by the, to be added, appendedclaims.

We claim:
 1. A sling-type infant carrier consisting of: a) a sling bodymeans adapted to be located across the torso of an adult, said slingbody means further comprises a sling body having first and second ends,and substantially elliptical opposed sides, wherein said opposed sidesof said sling body form a cavity for receiving an infant and furtherform a rim of said sling body means. b) an adjustable adjustment strapassembly for attachment to said first and second ends, and saidadjustment strap assembly having a shoulder pad means; c) said shoulderpad means for disposing about the upper torso of the adult; d) saidsling body means further comprising a means for support to benon-movably connected along the length of each of said opposed sides andspaced below said rim, whereby said sling body has expansion abilitybelow said support means and said sling body means has the necessaryamount of strength and integrity.
 2. An infant carrier according toclaim 1, wherein said sling body is fixedly attached at attachment sitessubstantially near said opposed sides to a front and a back top band andfurther includes a predetermined number of gathers.
 3. An infant carrieraccording to claim 2, wherein said front and back top bands have twodistinct lengths, said front top band having a first length and saidback top band having a second length shorter than said first length ofsaid front top band.
 4. An infant carrier according to claim 3, whereinsaid front and back top bands further surround a batting material.
 5. Aninfant carrier according to claim 4, wherein said shoulder pad means isfixedly attached to said first end of said sling body means using afirst shoulder pad means attachment that surrounds a portion of saidshoulder pad means and said first end of said sling body means.
 6. Aninfant carrier according to claim 5, wherein said shoulder pad means,said first end of said sling body means and said first shoulder padmeans attachment are fastened together.
 7. An infant carrier accordingto claim 6, wherein an adjustment strap is fixedly attached to saidshoulder pad means using a second shoulder pad means attachment thatsurrounds a portion of said adjustment strap and a portion of saidshoulder pad means.
 8. An infant carrier according to claim 7, whereinsaid adjustment strap, said shoulder pad means and said second shoulderpad means attachment are fastened together.
 9. An infant carrieraccording to claim 8, wherein said adjustment strap is adjustablyattached to said second end of said sling body means using a bar slide.10. An infant carrier according to claim 9, wherein said second end ofsaid sling body means includes a sling body means attachment surroundingsaid second end of said sling body means and a portion of a loop ofstrap operatively connected with said bar slide.
 11. An infant carrieraccording to claim 9, wherein said loop of strap further includes acommon loop operatively connecting said loop of strap with said barslide.
 12. An infant carrier according to claim 11, wherein said secondend of said sling body means, said sling body means attachment and saidloop of strap are fastened together.